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Europe & Eurasia -Selected IRG Projects
Regional
| Regional Energy Security and Market Development (RESMD), 2007-2010 |
| USAID/RESMD |
IRG is working with governments and regional agencies in the Europe and Eurasia region on five key aspects of energy security and market development: 1) to promote cooperation among major regional energy importing countries on policy strategies to improve energy security and create more transparent and competitive regional energy markets, 2) to establish a common regulatory framework that facilitates trade and investment and diversification of gas supplies, 3) to create a transparent and reliable regional electricity market in South East Europe, and possibly the Black Sea region, that will stimulate new investment in the generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, and facilitate trade of the region’s diverse resources, 4) develop regional institutional capacity for integrated energy system planning to advise policy formulation, and 5) to stimulate sound investments in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies to reduce import dependency and improve environmental performance including the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. |
Armenia
| Earthquake
Zone Project, 2001 |
| USAID/Armenia
|
| IRG provided short-term technical assistance to ensure that
environmental concerns were taken into consideration during
the design and implementation of the project, and that USAID's
environmental standards were fulfilled. IRG also trained local
staff to carry out all environmental monitoring. |
Bulgaria
| Wood Residue to Energy-Peer Review, 2002 |
| World
Bank |
| IRG provided peer review services in support of a greenhouse
gas reduction project involving the installation of a biomass
boiler and the monitoring and certification of emission reduction.
IRG assessed the project's compliance with Prototype Carbon
Fund guidelines; a study was conducted and a protocol prepared
to guide the monitoring and verification process during project
implementation. |
| District Heating-Peer Review, 2002 |
| World Bank |
| IRG provided peer review services in support of a district
heating proposal involving the reduction of greenhouse gases.
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Cyprus
| Cyprus Partnership for Economic Growth - Support for Activities that Value the Environment, 2005 - 2010 |
| USAID |
| Cyprus faces economic and policy challenges stemming from the resources gap between Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities. Facilitating reunification of the island requires promotion of sustainable economic growth and cultural conservation and restoration to bridge this resource gap. In this endeavor, IRG helped to build local capacity to protect and manage Cyprus’ rich natural and cultural resources. IRG addressed water conservation management issues, irrigated 18 farms with 90,000 tons of less water, cutting energy costs by 90 percent. Through the restoration of medieval architectural sites, traditional mills, and training in traditional handicrafts, IRG helped grow tourism through cultural heritage conservation and restoration efforts. |
Moldova
| Energy Sector Reform, 2000-2001 |
| USAID/Moldova
|
| IRG provided technical assistance to Moldova in their energy
sector reform and restructuring program. IRG worked closely
with the newly established regulatory agency to develop draft
licenses for regulated entities, review draft energy laws, develop
cost of service and tariff methodology, unbundle tariffs, and
resolve other regulatory issues. |
| Agricultural Pollution Control Project, 2003 |
| World
Bank and Global
Environment Facility |
IRG conducted an environmental assessment
of the Agricultural Pollution Control Project area and prepared
an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. This assessment
and the resulting report provided essential background information
and baseline data for the project. It also contained data
regarding environmental impact, alternatives analysis, and
an environmental management plan. This report has been essential
in assessing and addressing any negative environmental and
social risks that might arise due to project interventions,
as well as suggesting the actions needed to implement the
proposed measures. |
Poland
| Feasibility Studies
for Industrial Combined Heat and Power Cogeneration Projects,
2002-2003 |
|
IRG supported the development of technical
feasibility studies for projects to mitigate coal mine methane
emissions. IRG updated and prepared deal structures for three
combined heat and power facilities. Ultimately, the goal was
to market the projects to US developers and independent power
producers as attractive rehabilitate-own-operate projects.
For the studies, IRG prepared: a project document, including
configurations, structures, and economic projections; up to
two alternative configurations for each project, calculating
simple economic projections for each; and a proposed transaction
structure and term sheets for review by Polish participants. |
Romania
| Assistance on
Environmental Policy, 2000-2002 |
| USAID/Romania |
| IRG provided technical assistance to the Government of Romania
to help it abate harmful pollutants and meeting EU environmental
standards. IRG helped mobilize various finance sources to accelerate
environmental investment. IRG's technical assistance in financing
the operation of environmental control authorities resulted
in a significant improvement in Romania's ability to identify
and control pollution. After helping to align legislation with
international best practices and address European concerns,
IRG also implemented a major directive on industrial pollution
prevention and helped prepare regulations on environmental permitting
and the disposal of used batteries and waste oil. |
| Romania Agricultural
Pollution Reduction, 2001-2003 |
| USAID/Romania |
| IRG helped to reduce the environmental impacts of nitrates
and phosphates from agricultural sources located in the Calarasi
Judet on the Danube. This area, very near the delta and the
Black Sea coast, is heavily polluted due to high nutrient discharges
from agricultural sources. IRG provided assistance to the Judet
environmental and agricultural units by performing an evaluation
of water and soil quality, and identification of pollution sources.
IRG also developed solutions to reduce chemical discharges into
the environment and introduced ecological management systems
to reinforce the pollution reduction efforts. In addition, IRG
provided technical and logistical support for facilitating information
exchange between key elements of this effort. IRG was a subcontractor
under this USAID Water IQC Task Order. |
| Flood Early Warning System Feasibility, 2001-2003
|
| USAID/Romania
|
| Romania 's transition to a market economy has been complicated
by water-related disasters. Flooding and accidental industrial
spills have caused extensive damage to Romania's social and
economic infrastructure. Focusing on the feasibility phase of
the flood early warning concept, IRG conducted a study that
reviewed relevant prior studies and the legal and institutional
frameworks governing watershed management. IRG also reviewed
relevant infrastructure needs and recommended improvements in
the regulatory and institutional framework. In addition, IRG
drafted a national investment strategy and developed a detailed
implementation plan based on the results of the study. IRG was
a subcontractor under this USAID Water IQC Task Order. |
| Environmental Policy and Institutional Restructuring,
2002-2003 |
| USAID/Romania |
| To reduce the negative environmental impact of nitrates and
phosphates from agricultural sources on the Danube River and
Black Sea, IRG helped strengthen the capacity and long-term
sustainability of institutions to make them better-equipped
to cope with the environmental requirements associated with
EU accession. IRG's work included: evaluating water and soil
quality and sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution; developing
solutions for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus discharge into
water and soil; introducing ecological management systems for
chemical and organic fertilizers; improving the water and soil
quality monitoring and control systems; and providing technical
and logistical support to facilitate the exchange of information
among experts, farmers, agricultural operators, and workers
in animal and poultry breeding complexes. |
Related Publication:
2003-08 Romania Final Report.pdf (505Kb) |
| Energy Regulatory and Restructuring Assistance,
1999-2001 |
| USAID/Romania
|
| IRG provided technical assistance in regulation and restructuring
to assist Romania 's National Regulatory Agency for Energy and
the national electricity company in the transition to a regulated,
competitive electric power sector. IRG supported the newly created
regulatory body in developing regulations, trade agreements,
commercial and technical codes, and distribution and retail
rules, as well as database development, information management,
and metering, billing, and collection issues. In addition, IRG
was involved in forming a public relations unit, identifying
strategic goals, and facilitating a press conference. |
Ukraine
| Municipal Heating Reform Project, 2009-2012 |
| USAID/Ukraine
|
IRG implements USAID’s three-year Municipal Heating Reform (MHR) Project to support reforms in Ukraine’s heating sector. IRG seeks to help Ukraine transform municipal heating into a financially viable, well-managed, and equitably regulated sector that delivers quality services at affordable prices. The MHR Project Team will work with Government of Ukraine counterparts to strengthen the legal, regulatory, and institutional framework to improve heating services, tariff regulations, and bring the heating sector into compliance with EU legislation. The MHR Project Team has recently selected 34 cities for pilot projects to assess municipal energy systems, develop energy efficient plans, obtain financing, implement energy efficient technologies and methodologies, and monitor results. The MHR Project will engage in a strong outreach program to educate citizens and elevate public awareness and participation in energy efficiency activities, including the establishment of condominium and homeowner associations. IRG is working in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and NGO partners and is supported by the following subcontractors: Alliance to Save Energy, RTI International, Taylor-DeJongh, and Ayrlie Partners from the US; EnEffect-Consult from Bulgaria; ENSI from Norway; and the Municipal Development Institute, Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine, JurEnergo, and OptimEnergo from Ukraine. |
Related Publication:
2009-05 USAID Insight (165Kb) |
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